An Austin police officer was driving with his emergency lights and siren activated when he began texting his girlfriend, according to body-camera footage from a January 2025 crash that injured three people. The video shows Officer Daniel Kessler looking at and typing on his phone as he approached a red light at U.S. 290 and Cameron Road.
The footage, reviewed by the Austin American-Statesman, shows Kessler removing his left hand from the wheel about nine seconds into the recording. He reached roughly 52 mph, sometimes steered with his knees and kept both hands off the wheel for nearly 30 seconds while sending personal messages.
Kessler was responding to a backup call involving officers who had stopped a stolen vehicle when his patrol car crashed into three other vehicles on January 21, 2025. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office said he later pleaded guilty to two Class C misdemeanor speeding offenses and paid the maximum $500 fine for each count.
The Crash Left Two Drivers With Serious Injuries
The collision left Jacob Mancha with a concussion, a broken kneecap, facial lacerations and permanent scarring, according to the Statesman’s account. Mancha spent about a week in the hospital and has undergone physical therapy for 18 months while also seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress.
Tonie Reese was hospitalized overnight and was diagnosed with a torn meniscus that required surgery. She has continued to report intense pain in her knee, hip and back, and told the Statesman that caring for the small children in her job has become increasingly difficult.
Justin Reese, Tonie Reese’s husband, was driving the family’s only vehicle from Elgin to Austin for a medical appointment and grocery trip when the crash occurred. The injured drivers are pursuing civil claims against the city, with their potential recovery limited by state-mandated caps that divide up to $500,000 among the injured parties.
Prosecutors Said The Video Did Not Support A Felony
Travis County prosecutors declined to pursue a texting-and-driving charge, saying the available evidence did not meet the legal standard for that offense. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office said the case was jointly investigated by APD’s Special Investigations Unit and the office’s Civil Rights Unit.
Texas law gives emergency-vehicle operators limited authority to exceed speed limits, pass red lights after slowing and disregard certain traffic rules while responding to emergency calls. It does not erase an officer’s duty to operate with appropriate regard for public safety or shield conduct that amounts to reckless disregard, under the state Transportation Code.
Texting while driving is separately prohibited across Texas, although the law includes limited exceptions for certain official communications. The Texas Department of Transportation advises drivers to pull completely off the road before using a phone.
Kessler Resigned Before The Disciplinary Hearing Ended
Kessler resigned 10 days before the Statesman published its report, ending the department’s disciplinary process before a hearing could conclude. He said he deeply regrets the crash and is relieved that the criminal case has been resolved.
The video adds a stark layer to a case that otherwise ended with speeding convictions rather than a felony prosecution. It also leaves the civil claims, the injured drivers’ long-term recovery and the question of departmental accountability as the remaining avenues for determining what consequences follow from the crash.
